Event scheduled to mark Veterans Day

The University of North Georgia (UNG) will hold one event to mark Veterans Day.

The National Roll Call will transition to an online event for the first time and will be from 1-5 p.m. Nov. 11. The previously scheduled Corps of Cadets event to honor veterans has been canceled due to the forecast of rain.

UNG will honor veterans living and deceased, as well as service members killed in action, at 1 p.m. Nov. 11 via Facebook as part of the National Roll Call. The event will be streamed live on the Veteran and Adult Learners Facebook page. UNG's Nighthawk Engagement and Student Transitions (NEST) office hosts the event as part of a national grassroots effort designed to make the holiday a time of appreciation and reflection.

UNG students, faculty, staff and community members can fill out a form to sign up to read names through a Zoom link they will receive after signing up. They can also submit the names of friends and family who served, which will be added to the names of service members from Georgia killed in action since 2001. A third option for participation is to submit videos or typed messages to be included in a PowerPoint presentation that will be played on a loop after names are read until 5 p.m.

At 5 p.m., the playing of Retreat and the firing of the cannon on UNG's Dahlonega Campus will mark the end of the ceremony.

"We have community members who come, and we wanted them to still be able to participate and feel safe," said Christy Orr, assistant director of NEST at UNG. "We're glad this new format will allow students, faculty, staff and community members from any of our five campuses to participate by reading names."

The online option also allows people to view the ceremony on Facebook after it ends.

Chizuru Colon, NEST specialist and the wife of an active-duty Army sergeant, is grateful to be part of how UNG is honoring service members.

"This year, it means so much more because of the curveballs thrown at us from every direction," Colon said. "I find that these Veterans Day observances at UNG demonstrate total commitment to the veterans and their family members. I find it very special."